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The Deadliest Hurricanes In The United States 1900-1996




The top 30 cyclones for the U.S. mainland are listed.
RANKINGHURRICANEYEARCATEGORY DEATHS
1.TX (Galveston)190048000+
2.FL (Lake Okeechobee)192841836
3.FL (Keys)/S. TX19194600#
4.NEW ENGLAND19383*600
5.FL (Keys)19355408
6.AUDREY (SW LA/N TX)19574390
7.NE U.S.19443*390@
8.LA (Grand Isle)19094350
9.LA (New Orleans)19154275
10.TX (Galveston)19154275
11.CAMILLE (MS/LA)19695256
12.FL (Miami)/MS/AL/Pensacola19264243
13.DIANE (NE U.S.)19551184
14.SE FL19062164
15.MS/AL/Pensacola19063134
16.AGNES (NE U.S.)19721122
17.HAZEL (SC/NC)19544*95
18.BETSY (SE FL/SE LA)1965375
19.CAROL (NE U.S.)19543*60
20.SE FL/LA/MS1947451
21.DONNA (FL/Eastern U.S.)1960450
22.GA/SC/NC1940250
23.CARLA (TX)1961446
24.TX (Velasco)1909341
25.TX (Freeport)1932440
26.S TX1933340
27.HILDA (LA)1964338
28.SW LA1918334
29.SW FL1910330
30.ALBERTO (NW FL/GA/AL)1994TS&30
ADDENDUM (Pre-1900 or not Atlantic/Gulf Coast):
2.LA1893Unk2000
2-3.SC/GA1893Unk1000-2000
3.GA/SC1881Unk700
9.San Felipe (Puerto Rico)19284312
13.U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico19322225
17.DONNA (St. Thomas, VI)19604107
24.Southern California1939TS&45
24.ELOISE (Puerto Rico)1975TS&44

+ - May actually been as high as 10,000 to 12,000.
# - Over 500 of these lost on ships at sea; 600-900 estimated deaths.
* - Moving more than 30 miles an hour.
@ - Some 344 of these lost on ships at sea.
& - Only of Tropical Storm intensity.
Unk - Intensity not sufficiently known to establish category.


This is taken from The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States hurricanes of this century (and other frequently requested hurricane facts) [NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-1] updated in February, 1997.



Brian Maher
Jack Beven

Last updated July 20, 1999